Has Lyme lowered my IQ ?!?!

I treated my Lyme for about 1 1/2 to 2 years with orals and IV antibiotics and just had to start back on orals due to relapse. I have really noticed that I am not as "smart" as I used to be or as "quick". My kids bring home their homework and ask questions and it makes me feel stupid. Now I don't feel so bad with my seventh grader b/c she's in all advanced classes and her work is a little trickier, but my fourth and fifth grader is another story. I will find myself telling them we need to ask their father or look it up online. Sometimes I know the answers, but I second guess myself because I don't feel confident in my abilities anymore and my cognitive abilities are so lacking. I am sure my kids are thinking why can't my mom help me with my homework?!? I didn't finish college, but I did go for a couple of years, and I have always been an avid book reader and consider myself somewhat intelligent. I guess I just feel I have lost a little of it somewhere in all this - anyone else?!?!

Blessings,
Leah

Hi Leah,

Lyme can definetely mess with our congnitive abilities. It can definetely do the things you described. It sure messed with my brain. I had a neuropsych work up (with is testing for cogitive function) and it was not good - IQ down 30 points and really severe issues. It all got a lot better for my with treatment.

I feel retarded. I am very forgetful and I cannot follow what other people are saying very well. It actually makes me angry when my husband tries to explain something to me because it is so confusing.
I cannot remember words and things I used to know, I am not confident I actually know any more. I feel foggy and disconnected. It is like trying to find somthing in the dark - gropping. Depressing.

I used to teach computer courses to adults and I was self taught. I had to pass examinations to become Microsoft certified. When I became ill one of the things I became very aware of was that my cognitive skills were declining. I changed jobs because I didn't have the stamina to teach any longer (you are on stage if you know what I mean). My next job still involved computers and some technical things but I had to eventually quite altogether because I was really noticing changes and when I asked my boss about it she agreed that she had noticed it also. So you are validated that what you sense is correct, but also very upsetting.

Like Kandinsky, I also had neuro-psych testing done, partly because I had to go on disability. (In other words I am not recommending that you do it since you know that you are struggling.)
I had trouble following conversations, word recall, organizing things and a lot of frustration with all these things.

I have been through long and agrgressive treatment and it has all improved dramatically. I feel like myself again to the extent it is possible - accounting for just plain being a little older and going through such an ordeal that really did a number on my body, mind, and yes, spirit. So hang in there - with treatment it will get better and remember that your kids love you because you are Mom. Any strategies that you can use to help yourself show that you are compensating for the situation you are in now. It will get better with treatment.
bcaring

Hi everybody! Our family is in the same "boat" with all of you----guess it needs to be the size of an ocean liner!! We can relate to what all of you have said. Best wishes. bablymers mom

We with this disease may benefit from EFA -- fish oil -- as it has been shown to improve folks with impaired function!

hopingTo FindCure, thanks for the reminder. Fish oil (omega 3) and Ginkgo Biloba. Also B12 and magnesium for the nerve function. And zinc and vitamin C to strengthen the immune system. I forget unless I have a list and prepare it all in advance (put it in pill boxes).

Neffer,
I hear you. Before I got well. I forgot how to drive on day while getting onto the freeway.
I could not remember anything, faces, places, and forget helping my kids with homework...I hired a tutor and could not even remember her name...lol
But the information that you know is still in your brain. It has not been errased, it is just not able to be accesed with the disease in the way.
You will get it all back when you recover. It is still there.

---

2004 in Martha's Vineyard me and my two daughters then 11 mos and 6 all got Lyme Disease. This was only known to us because we found the tiny ticks on us and we got very ill. My dog also got lyme and he went lame.
We have fought it for 4 years to no avail.
We all got it again this summer is Texas.
I am now in treatment in Scottsdale Arizona at Envita.

"The eyes cannot see for for what the mind does not know."

Agree with martha's vineyard. Get the treatment you need -- and take the vitamins recommended by neffer -- B12 seemed to REALLY make a difference for me in terms of function and energy level. I am adding fish oil...helps the joints as well!

YOU WILL GET IT BACK -- Martha is right on!

 

I saw this post the other day when it was first up.  I suddenly remembered that I used to play the "SIMON" handheld game of my son's.  I used to be pretty good at it with up to 12 steps sequenced successfully.  When I found the game the other day, I only sequenced THREE! AND that was challenging!  My dear son said "What happened mom, you used to be so good?"  I told him "that's okay, I'm just good at other things now".

I am post Lyme but current with babesia.  I have good clear days and then not so clear.  When the phone rings and I pick up the tv remote, I know I shouldn't drive or do much "challenging" activities.

I DO play some form of computer game everyday if even for a few minutes.  My neurologist RX'd 20 minutes of cognitive therapy everyday.  My favorite is "Brain Age" on my DS.  When I first started my brain age was 87!  I'm 52 years young!!! Now I'm at 64 yrs of age!  Games or activities with 'recall" was what he suggested. 

Fish oil and magnesium has helped too.

Good luck

maggie

ASHLEY..THERE IS HOPE.  I TOO NOTICED THAT MY LEVEL OF INTELLIGENCE, MEMORY AND QUICK WIT WERE GREATLY ERRODED AND I EVEN DEVELOPED WHAT I CALLED ALZHEIMERS @ AGE 48. IN DESPERATION I SIGNED ON WITH A QUANTUM PHSYICS OR ENEGETIC HEALING PROGRAM THAT I LEARNED about FROM A BOOK CALLED SANCTUARY.  I AM NOW FUNCTIONAL WHEREAS I WASN'T UNTIL I RECIEVED TREATMENT.  IT WAS ONLY AFTERWARDS THAT I LEARNED THAT I HAVE BEEN BATTLING LYMES FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.  I HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO KEEP MY HEAD ABOVE WATER THROUGH VIBRATIONAL MEDICINE OF ONE FORM OR ANOTHER AND AM  GOING TO EXPLORE SOMETHING NEW AS I DO NOT FEEL 100% YET...I MISS MY SENSE OF HUMOR AND CONFIDENCE.  WILL START A HOMEOPATHIC SERIES FOR LYME SOON, WISH ME LUCK AS I DO YOU!  BOOTS